Colombian artist Concha Bernal shares folklore and message of unity in Paraguay

Colombian singer Concha Bernal recently graced Paraguay with a concert, celebrating Colombia's National Day and sharing the richness of her country's folklore. Performing in Asunción with musicians from the National Symphony Orchestra, Bernal marked the 216th anniversary of Colombia's Independence.

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For me it is something much more than a concert. Music is a universal language and I deeply believe that Latin America is united by very strong and very similar musical currents.

Bernal views music as more than just a performance; she described it as a universal language that bridges Latin American cultures through strong, similar musical currents. For her, the Asunción concert was an opportunity to communicate that music embodies freedom, unity, and a language of reclamation. "I deeply believe in the power that music has and the power that art has to unite and transform," she stated.

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music also has to do with communicating that music is also part of freedom, of a language of freedom, of a language of union, of a language of vindication.

As a "daughter of the Colombian Caribbean," Bernal feels most comfortable performing cumbia, porro, and other rhythms rooted in deep African percussive heritage, alongside influences from indigenous and Spanish traditions. She explained that her performance was a reaffirmation of her identity as a Colombian artist, honoring the diverse and rich heritage of her homeland. "History tells and sings. And we sing cumbia, we sing that marvelous heritage that we come to represent today," she said.

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I deeply believe in the power that music has and the power that art has to unite and transform.

Bernal's cultural diplomacy efforts have taken her to stages worldwide, including South Asia, South Africa, Europe, Central America, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi. She expressed gratitude to Ambassador Juan Manuel Corzo for the invitation to Paraguay, recognizing the significant role of promoting Colombian culture abroad.

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To honor all the values and all the heritage that I have from my beloved land, which is very rich, which is multicultural, which has enormous plurality.